Research

Recent
discoveries of fossilized sauropod skin (diplodocid) impressions
reveal a very different appearance for these dinosaurs. The fossilized
skin demonstrates that a median row of spines was present over
the tail and may have continued along the body and neck. This
gives these dinosaurs an ornamental profile of dermal spines.

The
discoveries were made by the Sauria Museum of Aathal Switzerland,
and paleontologist Stephen Czerkas, at the Howe Quarry in Wyoming.
Czerkas published a preliminary report in Geology in December
of 1992, and then a complete report in Gaia in December
of 1994.